Pakistan vs New Zealand, 1st T20I Preview & Expected Playing XI

Pakistan and New Zealand will lock horn in the first T20I at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on 14th April 2023. Check out the match preview, head-to-head record and expected Playing XI of both the teams.

Pakistan vs New Zealand First t20I (Image Source: Google)

New Zealand tour of Pakistan, 2023 will start with the 1st Twenty20 International of the five-match series at the Gaddafi Stadium on Friday (April 14).

Team News

The wicketkeeper batter, Tom Latham, will lead the side in the absence of Tim Southee. The Kiwi side will miss some of their star cricketers as they are participating in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) season. The Black Caps won the recently concluded T20I series against Sri Lanka by 2-1.

Pakistan, runners-up to England in last year's Twenty20 World Cup in Australia, welcome back skipper Babar Azam and key players Mohammad Rizwan, Fakhar Zaman, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf. They were rested for the recent losing series against Afghanistan.

Shaheen's return will be his first international match since injuring his knee in the World Cup final.

Pakistan Cricket Board has appointed Grant Bradburn as the head coach of their men's team for this limited-overs series against New Zealand. 

Pakistan vs New Zealand: Head-to-Head In T20I 

The two sides last met in the semi-final of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2022 in Sydney where Pakistan won the match by 7 wickets. 

Matches: 29 Pakistan: 18 New Zealand: 11

Expected XI

Pakistan: Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Mohammad Haris, Shan Masood, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Imad Wasim, Ihsanullah, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf

New Zealand Chad Bowes, Tim Seifert, Tom Latham (c/wk), Daryl Mitchell, Mark Chapman, James Neesham, Rachin Ravindra, Adam Milne, Henry Shipley, Ish Sodhi, Ben Lister

Pakistan vs New Zealand Live Streaming, Live Broadcast in India

The first Pakistan vs. New Zealand T20I will start at 9:30 p.m. IST. Pakistan vs. New Zealand will be live streamed on the SonyLiv app and JioTV, while the live telecast will be on Sony Sports Ten 5 and Sony Sports Ten 5 HD.

Pakistan ve New Zealand T20I Series Schedule

• 14th April - 1st T20I at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
• 15th April - 2nd T20I at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
• 17th April - 3rd T20I at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
• 20th April - 4th T20I at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi
• 24th April - 5th T20I at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi

Pakistan and New Zealand will also meet in five one-day internationals after the T20 series, honing preparations for this year's 50-over World Cup in India.